The US President along with Colombia's president have escalated the volume in their verbal conflict, further raising tensions between the two countries following American military units targeted Venezuela to remove Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro from office.
"He runs cocaine mills and production sites and is not going to be doing it very long," the US president stated.
Growing Tensions and Accusations
Addressing reporters on Sunday, the American leader suggested similar use of force towards the South American nation, stating the country is also "very ill" and led by a problematic figure who likes making cocaine and selling it to America."
Although Colombia stands as the globe's biggest source of the narcotic, no proof exists that President Gustavo Petro, the nation's current leader, is personally connected to the business.
A Deteriorating Partnership
The country was historically a close partner of the United States in the struggle against narcotics trade and received cross-party backing in the US capital, however, the relationship have worsened significantly after Trump assumed the presidency.
The nation's drug trade is largely controlled by criminal organizations including one major cartel, the National Liberation Army (ELN) and breakaway groups of the demobilized Farc, most of its former fighters laid down arms subsequent to a 2016 peace deal.
Petro's Strong Response
In response to a query whether a military operation like that in Venezuela was on the cards regarding Colombia, Trump replied: "It sounds good to me personally."
The Colombian leader, once a member of a left-wing insurgent group who disarmed in the 1990s, firmly denied the accusations. "I am no illegitimate and I am not involved in narcotics," he declared.
"Trump speaks without information. Stop slandering me," he wrote online.
"Should American forces attack rural communities, they will transform into numerous insurgents across the countryside. And if they detain the nation's leader, whom a large part of the country holds in high esteem, they will unleash the ‘jaguar’ of the nation," Petro warned.
From Fighter to President
He passed some years as a young man as a member of the leftist M-19 armed organization though it is believed he did not engaged in fighting. Following his disarmament, he participated in writing a new constitution over three decades ago and later became a respected lawmaker. He served as mayor of the Colombian capital prior to his election president.
"I made a vow not to touch arms again ... but for Colombia I would take up arms again," he said.
Reinforced Protection along with Widespread Rejection
Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that Petro's security detail had been reinforced.
A segment of Colombia’s right wing opposition have sided with Trump's stance, yet figures from all sides of the political spectrum have condemned the threats of an invasion against their nation.
Political and Financial Pressure
Washington cancelled Petro’s visa following he encouraged American soldiers to ignore unlawful commands. Later, in October, the US enacted financial sanctions on Petro, the first lady and a number of close collaborators.
Simultaneously while America bolstered its troop levels near Venezuela and striking suspected drug boats to put pressure on Venezuela’s Maduro, American military assets also carried out operations on boats in Pacific waters off the Colombian coast.
